Selective program system



Original Filed March l2, 1931 IUIIH HHH www n WW QW Y WB w. 0 Gu Feb. 18, 1936. G. B. SCHEIBELL SELECTIVE PROGRAM SYSTEM original Filed Mir-1i 12, 1951 6 sheets-sheet 2 m IlrUlwHl A'TTORNEY Feb. 18, 1936. Q Bl $HE|BELL 2,031,075

SELECTIVE PROGRAM SYSTEM l Original Filed March 12, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Im 4J BYl l ATTORNEY Feb. 18, 1936. G. B. sciHElBELL SELECTIVE PROGRAM SYSTEM original Filed March 12, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ...WIIH HH Feb. 18, 1936. l Y Q B SCHElBELL 2,031,075

SELECTIVE PROGRAM SYSTEM Original Filed March 12, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 (9 fm .l l n$ INKYE Sudn/w Mz A TTORNEY Feb. 18, 1936. G B, scHElBELL 2,031,075

SELEGTIE PROGRAM SYSTEM 'original Filed March 12, 1951 e sheets-sheet 6 s c` s s 155 BY @MM/,

ATTORNEY PatentedFcb. 18', 1,936 .l I

, 2,031,075 SELECTIVEPRQGRAMISYSTEM -Gordonrown Scheiben.. New York, N. Y.

. Application March 12, 1931, Serial No. 522,090

e 'v j Renewed June 7,1933

, 43 `Claims. -I(Cl.` 179-2) My invention-pertains to aselective'program vldedwhereby-each receiving'station can be consystem in'which any one o1 a .plurality of re. nected to any one of the automatic program recorded programs canbef automatically selected producing machines. A- step-by-step impulse for reception by any one of a plurality of rec'eivsending-device is located at each receiving stain g stations. 1 u 'tion for eiecting the control of the machine 5 I- am aware of. programvsystems in which proswitches. When a subscriber at any one of these grams are vdistributed atl'carrier"frequencies over 'receiving stations desires to select a program, he Acommercial light .and.power distribution netsends the required sequence of impulses to the Works to a plurality ofreceiving stations as well central 'program station by means of the imas other systems in which programs are dis-' pulse-sending device located at his receiving sta- 10 tributed over telephone systems :to a plurality of v tion. Machine switching apparatus at the cenreceiving stations. I am not aware, however, that tral program station then responds to the imany system-has been heretofore disclosed in'which pulses toconnect the receiving station to the means are provided expressly for theselective disproperA automatic program reproducing machine. tribution of recorded programs to a plurality `of The desiredprogram will then be automatically 15 subscribers by purely automatic methods. i reproduced `from a recording. At the expiration One of the objects of my invention consists in of the program recording the automatic proproviding a selective program system lnwhich vgram reproducing machine will be shut down recorded programs can be selectively distributed while the machine switching apparatus will be to a plurality ofprograin receiving stations by restored to its initial position so that another 20 automatic apparatus underA control of each of program can be selected by the subscriber at the the receiving stations. n receiving station as desired. All of the opera- Another object of my invention consists in protions of my system, aside from the manual maducing a selective program system in which a nipulation of the impulse-sending mechanism at plurality oi programs recorded 'on photographic the receivingstation, are entirely automatic. 25

lm can be selectively distributed to a plurality In my copending application, Serialv Number of program receiving stations by automatic ap- 522,091, led March 12, 1931, there is described paratus. a related system making use of phonograph re- A further object of my invention comprises pro-A cordings for program selection purposes. viding a selective program system employing a The arrangement and operation in detail of 30 plurality of automatic program reproducing maone embodiment of my invention will be apchines, a plurality of program receiving staparent'irom the following, reference being had tions, and machine switching apparatus for seto the accompanying drawings, in which:

lectively connecting the receiving stations to Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the the program reproducing machines. general arrangement of one embodiment of my -35 The word program herein used is defined as system; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation meaning television signals or sound signals inof the electrical circuits of a typical receiving asmuch as my system can be equally well emstation and switching system together with an ployed for distribution oi either visual or sound elementary representation of typical program 40 programs, or both, as will be hereinafter pointed producing system employed in the embodiment of' 40 out. v A. Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation My invention contemplates providing a central of the electrical organization of a typical program program station in which a multiplicityof autoproducing system employed in my invention; Fig. matic program reproducing machines are located. 4 is a graphical representation of the time rela- These program reproducing machines are pref tionshiplof the switching operations of my system. 45 erably of the type adapted to employ program This table isprovded for purposes of clarityin recordings made 0n DhOtOgraphc lm and which description; Fig. 5 is a perspective representation are automatic in their operation as hereinafter of a form of one of the program signal producing disclosed. Each of these program machines, acsystems employed in my system; Fig. 6 is a seheif" cording to my present invention, is preferably matic representation of the optical systemifeni- 50 provided with a different program recording so ployed in the apparatus depicted in Fig. 5; Fig. 7

that each machine will reproduce a different prois a sectional view of timing mechanismA employed gram. A plurality of receiving stations are conin the apparatus of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a'sectional nected by wire lines to the central program staview corresponding to Fig. 7 but with movable tion in which machineswitching means are proelements thereof in a different relative position;

Fig. 9 is a view of part of the mechanism also depicted in Figs. 7 and 8 and taken along the line 9--9 of Fig. 7; Fig..10 is a. front view of thetively, provided in the program central station 8.`

As contemplated by my invention, the program central station 8 is indicative of a central organization comprising a multiplicity of program sources and associated switching apparatus serving a large number of program ccgisumers` indicated by the receiving stations I, 2 and 3. For

purposes of description, the program central station might be compared to a telephone system central oiiice, or exchange and the receiving stations to the telephone subscribers. It is to be understood that in practice the number of receiving stations and associated circuits would be considerable, the number being here limited for simplicity. Still referring` to Fig. 1, each of the selective switching systems is connected in multiple to three program producing systems 8, I0 and II. In this specification, fory simplicity, circuits are shown as having ground returns, al-

though in practice, metallic or wire returns may` be used.

Fig. 2, now, shows in more detail the arrangement of the electrical organization o1' a typical receiving station, such as receiving station 2, and a typical switching system, such as switching system 6, as employed in the selective program system of my invention. The arrangement of each of the receivingstations and switching systems is similar.

A loud speaker I2 and television set including neon lamp I3 are connected through switches to an amplifier I4. The amplifier I4 can be of any conventional type adapted to amplify television and sound signals. The input to this amplifier I4' is coupled to an induct'ancej I5 in series with an` impulse sending-device I6. The impulsesending device I6 is of a conventional type such as used in automatic telephony and comprises a dial, cam, and switch adapted to interrupt a. circuit 'to produce a sequence of electricalimpulses corresponding to a dialed number. The program line `from the inductance I5 in the' receivingstation is directed through the cable 4 to a battery 25 of the switching system 6 within the program central station 8. This program line is extended from the battery 25 to relay armature 2| and thence through a flexible leadto a wiping contact 26 mounted on the rotating arm 21 which forms part of a step-by-step selector, well known in automatic telephony. The larm 21 is mounted on a rotatable ratchet wheel 28. A tension spring v29 is'provided to hold the arm 21 normally against `the-'stop-pin 38. An arm 3| is provided kadjacent 'anf'ele'ctromagnet 23 and is adapted to rotate the ratchet wheel 28, one ratchet tooth each time the magnet 23 is energized. The arm 21 is provided with another wiping contact 32. The contacts 26 and 32 are adapted to make contact withan arcuate group of contacts 33, 34, 35, 36, 31l and 38 positionedabout the center of the lratchet wheel 28. When the arm 21 is at rest against the stop-pin 30, the contacts 26 and 32 `are not in engagement with any of these contacts. Each separate energization of the magnet 23 advances the arm 421 to the next consecutive radial pair of contacts of the group 33,' 34, 36. 36, 31 and 38. A spring holds the arm 3| away from the ratchet wheel 28 when the magnet 23 is deenergized. A pawl 38 is normally held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 28 and prevents the spring 29 from returning the arm 21 tothe stoppin 30 as the ratchet wheel 28 is being actuated. A slow-to-release magnet 22 is provided adjacent the pawl 39 for releasing the same at the proper time so that the arm 21 can be returned to its initial position against stop-pin 30. It is to be understood that the foregoing arrangement comprising a step-by-step selector is here shown in elementary form only, the construction of the same being well known in automatic telephony.

A- magnet I8 is connected to the battery 25 and is under control of the impulse-sending device I6. An armature, under control of the magnet I8, actuates the contacts 24 and 20 which are closed when the magnet I8 is deenergized. That is, the contacts 24 and 20 are closed when the line to battery 25 is interrupted by the impulsesending device I6. 'I'he contacts 24 co'ntrol the current from battery 40 to the magnet 23. The contacts 20 control the current from battery 4I to magnet I9. The magnet I9 is of the slow-torelease type provided with a copper collar on its core which serves to maintain the flux in the core for some time after the current has been interrupted. Such slow-to-release magnets are well known in automatic telephony. An armature 2I positioned adjacent the magnet I9 controls the line from the battery 25 to the contact 26 on the arm 21. Another slow-to-release magnet I1 is positioned to act upon the armature 2I independently of magnet I9. The magnet I1 is connected through ground in parallel with magnet 22.v The contacts 33, 35 and 31 are connected to` program lines in lmultiple with the program producing systems 9, I0 and I I, respectively, while the contacts 34, 36 and 38 are connected to auxiliary disconnect" lines associated with the program producing systems 9, I0 and II, respectively. For simplicity of description a typical example of operation of. my system will be set forth in which the step-by-step selector of the switching system 6 makes connection with the program producing system I0. The circuits from contacts 35 and 36 are therefore shown in full, extending tol terminals 42 and 43 of the program producing system I0, whilethe circuits extending from contacts 33, 34, 31 and 38 are not shown extended.

The program producing system I0 consists of means for automatically reproducing a program from photographic film. In the present embodiment of my selective program system, I employ together with a novel arrangement of associated circuits, a type of sound reproduction projector, which is, by itself, disclosed and claimed in y copending application Ser. No. 443,398, filed A `ri1 11, 1930.` It is, of course, known in the art to record either sound or television signals upon a photographic lm. My present system contemplates employing either sound lor television signals so recorded.

In Fig. 2, the block entitled "Program producing system", comprises a system ywhich employs the sound reproduction projector before referred Vto and hereinafter described in greaterv detail.

'I'he exact manner in which this sound reproduction projector is employed, as well as the asreferring to Fig. 3, which is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical organization of a typical one of the program producing systems of the selective program system of my invention including amplier 16 controlled by photo cell 69.

Referring to Fig. 3, the terminal 42 is connected to contact spring 64, while terminal 43 is connected to contact spring 66. v mechanically connected to the contact springs 64 and 66 through an insulating bar.. A slow-torelease magnet 10 is positioned adjacent the armature 44. Energization of magnet 10 causes contact spring 64 to disengage from contact spring 63 and to engage with contact spring G5, while contact spring 66 engages with contact spring 51. However, contact spring 63 is of the follower type and continues in engagement with contact spring 64 until contact spring 64 engages contact spring 65. A connection isprovidcd from contact spring 63 to a magnet 1I and a magnet 62 connected in series. Another connection is provided from contact 63 to contact springs 6I and 52 connected in parallel. The magnet 1I operates form of switch panel to be found in application Ser. No. 443,398, to which reference has already been made. Panel 46 corresponds to switch panel 3| in this copending application. A pair of contact blades 51 and 54Aare pivotally mounted on the panel 46 upon opposite sides of a movable member 41 which extends through an arcuate slot 48 in the panel 46. The member 41 is actuated to traverse the slot 48 onceforevery change The member 41 is adapted to be moved every time the direction of longitudinal movement of,` Athe film 49 is changed. The mechanical arrangement of the panel 46 with reference to the film 49 and motor 13 will be understood by reference to the description hereinafter following in connection with Figs. 5-12. The contact blade 54 is adapted to engage with either contact 55 or 56, while the contact blade 51 is adapt-ed to engage with contact 56. The contact blade 54 has an extending portion which serves as an armature under control of the magnet 62. The contact 52 is positioned on the panel 46 upon one side of the contact blade 54 to engage with contact'spring 53 also positioned on the panel 45. Contact springs 56 and 5I are positioned on panel 46, as shown, on the other side of the contact blade 54. The contact spring 6I and a contact spring 59 are positioned on the panel 46 to engage with contact springs 58 and 60, respectively, which are positioned upon opposite sides of the contact blade 51, as'shown. A spring is provided to exert a force on the contact blade 51 in the direction of the contact 56. -The member 41 is adapted to engage contact blades 51 and 54 in the path of its movement.

The contact springs 53 and llare connected in parallel to a battery 14 and thence to the magnet 1 I. in series.

The contact springs 53 and 50 are connected The contact spring 5I is connected to the contact spring 61 and the contact spring 59 An armature 44 is tric cell 69, and can be of any conventional type such as a multistage resistance coupled amplifier well known in the art. The circuit from amplifier 16 to the receiving station is completed through ground.

The contact blades 51 and 54 are connected in parallel through a power source 11 to the motor 13. This circuit is completed through the contact 56. The magnet 15 is connected through a step-down transformer 19 to the circuit to the motor 13, as shown. The magnet 15 controls the energyfrom battery 80 to lamp 68 by means of armature 8l.

The operation of the foregoing will be understood from the following:

Fig. 4 is a graphical representation of the time relation of the switching operations of my selective program system. The representation of Fig.

4 is intended vonly to show the time sequence relation of the switching operations and not the absolute time value or duration. The hatched portions of the table indicate, for magnets, the time interval the magnet is energized, and for contact pairs, the time interval the contact pairs are in engagement. y

In an initial position the switching elements of Y the switching system 8 of Fig. 2 and the program producing system I6 of Fig. 3 are as shown In those figures.

When the subscriber at one of the receiving stations desires to have a certain program reproduced at his receiving station, he obtains the proper calliing number which corresponds to the desired program. These numbers may be arranged in an ing system having a particular program listed in the index and designated 2, Itl is to be understood that in practice there will be a great many program producing systems and that therefore the calling number might'comprise severall digits. In my present description. the program producing system I0 has been arbitrarily chosen as providing the program signals comprising program number 2.

The two interruptions in the program line cause two interruptions through ground of the current supply from battery 25 to magnet I8. The magnet VI8 upon deenergization causes the contact pairs 20 and 24 to be closed twice in succession. The contact pair 24 thereby closes the circuit through battery 49 to magnet 23 twice which accordingly moves the arm 21 around two steps into a position such that contact 26 engages contact 35 and contact 32 engages contact 36. However, at the same time, contact pair 20 has twice completed the circuit from battery 4I to the slow-totinuously lbroken at v2|, inasmuch as the flux is maintained in the core of magnet I9 for some time net |9 thereby keeps the program line open at 2| until the interruptions in the program line produced by the impulse-sending device` I6 have ceased. That is, the flux in the core of magnet I9 is maintained after the cessation of current supply for an interval longer than the interval between the constantly timed interruptions produced by sender I6. (See Fig. 4.)

After the arm 21 has arrived at the desired position (which is to say, after the desired-number of interruptions'has been made by sender I6). the program circuit will be closed at 2| which completes a circuit from battery '25 through terminal 42 and contact springs 63 and 64 to the magnets 1I and 62 connected in series to ground. Magnet 62 acts upon the armature rextension of contact blade 54 to cause the blade 54 to move out of engagement with contact 55 and into engagement'with contact 56. At the same time, the contact springs 50 land 5I disengage by virtue of resilient formation and `contact springs 52 and 53 are-brought into engagement. 'Ihe contacts 52 and 53 complete a sustaining circuit frombattery 14 to magnet 1I. The energization of magnet 1I causes the circuit from battery 45 to slowto-release magnet 10 to be completed at 12. The magnet 10 attracts armature 44 which causes contact spring 64 to disengage from contact spring 63 and to engage with contact spring 65, while contact spring 66 engages with contact spring 61.

` Contact spring 63 follows contact spring 54 up to a point Just preceding the engagement of contact spring 64 with contact spring 65. When contact 63 disengages from contact 64, the circuit from battery 25 to magnets 62 and 1I is broken. However, contacts 52 and 53 are now in engagement to complete a circuit from battery 14 to magnet 1I which sustains the energization of magnet 1I. The magnet 62 is deenergized. Contacts 66 and 61 prepare a circuit from terminal 43 to contact 5| which is now out of engagement with contact 50.

Whencontact blade 54 engages with contact 56, the motor 13 is started and the magnet 15 is energized completing a circuit to the lamp 66. The lamp 68 directs a beam of light through the When the lm 49 has reached the limit of movement in one direction, a'n automatic mechanism, described later in more detail, reverses the direction of longitudinal movement of the film 49 and shifts a shutter which exposes a different signal record to the photoelectric cell 69. A continuous program reproduction is thereby obtained without interruption. At the same time that the direction'of movement of thefilm 49 is reversed, the f automatic mechanism before referred to also causes the member 41 to move along the arcuate slot 48 so as to cause the contact blade 51 to engage with contact 56, and the contact blade 54 to disengage from contact 56 and to engage with contact 55. As the associated tension spring causes contact blade 51 to engage with contact 56 when the member 41 is moved, the contacts 60-6I engage and the contacts 58-59 disengage. The

2,031,075 after' the current supply has stopped. The mag-y member 41, moving in the directionl of the arrowv and engaging with contact blade 54, causes contacts 52-53 to disengage and contacts 50-5i to engage. The contacts 60--6I therefore engage before the contacts 52-53 disengage which sustains the circuit from battery 14 to magnet 1I. At the same time, contacts 58-59 disengage before contacts 50-5I engage, which serves to maintain an open circuit from battery 18 to contact spring 61. I

The program now continues without interruption until the limit of movement is again reached by the film 49. At this instant, the automatic mechanical vapparatus associated with the sound reproduction projector unit moves the member 41 in a direction opposite to thatindicated by the arrow to the initial position shown in Fig. 3. 'I'he contact blade 54 will remain in its previous position, but the contact blade 51 will be moved out of engagement with contact 56. The circuit to motor 13 will be immediately broken and the magnet 15 will be deenergized and the circuit to h v 18 through contacts 50--5|, which are now in engagement to contact spring 61. 'Ihe contact spring 61 is still in engagement with' contact spring 66 and completes the circuit through terminal 43, contacts 36-32 to the slow-to-releascl magnet 22. At the same time a circuit is also completed to the slow-to-release magnet I1. As soon as the magnet 22 is sufficiently energized from battery 18, the pawl 39 is withdrawn from ,engagement with the ratchet wheel 28. 'The tension spring 29 immediately returns the arm 21 to its initial position adjacent stop-pin 30. The contacts 26 and 32 are, of course, consequently out of engagement with any of the contacts of the group 33, 34, 35, 36, 31 and 38. Before the pawl 39 is withdrawnfrom the ratchet wheel 28, the magnet I1 breaksthe program circuit at 2|. Both magnet I1 and magnet 22 do not release until after the arm 21 is at rest against stop-pin `V30. When the magnets I 1 and 22 are deenergized. the system will be in an initial starting position so that another program may be dialed by the subscriber" by means of the impulse-sender I6. In the next instance, the subscriber may dial a different number to connect to a diierent programproducing system, such as program producing system 9 or II.

The magnets I9 and I1, in the foregoing, serve to preventthe energization of the magnets 1I and 62 in any of the program producing systems other than the one desired, inasmuch as the program circuit from battery 25 is always open at 2| while the arm 21 is moving.

In Fig. 5 reference numeral I0| designates a frame. Adjacent the opposite extremities of the frame the reels |02 and |03, upon which the nlm 49 is wound, are journaled. Idler pulleys |05 and |06 are provided adjacent the reels |02 and I 03. Reference characters |01 and |08 represent sprocket wheels which positively drive the film by engaging with the perforations provided in the same. The idler pulleys |65 and |06 and the sprocket wheels |01 and |08 are secured to the frame by axial mountings |09 and ||0 and and ||2,. respectively, and are free to rotate thereon. Aiixcd to the sides of the principal sprocket wheels |91- and |66 are additional sprocket wheels |4 and I5 for engagement with driving chains ||6 and H1. For the purpose of properly guiding the film I provide members I8 and ||9 located between the sprocket wheels |01 and |08 and secured to the frame |0| between which the film 49 passes. The central portion lof the member ||8 is open to fit a lens box |20 into which are mounted two prisms |2| and |22. The member H9 has a longitudinal slot into which an aperture plate |23 slidably fits. At the back of the projector and secured to the frame |0| is a mounting bracket |24. A frame |25 is mounted parallel to the frame |0| on the bracket |24. A strengthening member |26 extends from the frame |0| to the frame |25 and is secured at opposite ends to both. A shift rod |21 extends from a bearing in the frame |25 through a bearing support which is secured to the frame At one end of the shift rod |21 is a coupling link |29 which couples the shift rod |21 to the aperture plate |23. At the other end of the shift rod |21 is a shift yoke |30. The switch panel 46 is mounted on the frame |0| and at right angles thereto. The arm 41 is part of a switching arrangement mounted on the switch panel 46 whichy is more fully described elsewhere and is connected by a coupling link |33 to an arm |34 which is secured to the shift rod |21. 'A box |35 which contains a timing element, morefully described later, is mounted on the back of the frame |25. On the side vof the box |35 adjacent to the shift rod |21 is an arm |36, more fully described hereinafter, `which revolves in a plane parallel to the surface of the box |35 upon which it is mounted. Two stops |31 and |38 are secured to the b ox |35 and located so that they intercept the path of the arm |36 every 180 degrees. The driving motor 13 is mounted upon the bracket |24. The shaft |40 of the motor extends through the frame |25. Centrally located thereon is a worm |4| which engages a gear of the timing element of the box |35 described hereinafter. At the end of the shaft |48 is a bevel gear |42 which engages another bevel gear I43. The gear |43 has a pin |44 extending through its hub into a slot |45 in the drive shaft |46. The drive shaft |46 is supported by bearingmembers |41, |40 and |49 which are secured to the frame |25. At one end of the shaft |46 and above the bearing member |41 is secured the driving member |50 of a clutch, while at the other end of the shaft |46 below the bearing member |49 is secured the driving mem ber of another clutch. A shift disc |52 is located between two thrust collars |53 and |54 which are secured to the shaft |46. 'I'he disc |52 engages with one end of the shift yoke |30. A shaft |51 is mounted in bearing member |56. Secured to this shaft are the driven members |56 of a clutch, a thrust collar |59 and a miter gear |60. The member |58 is prevented from moving up or down on the shaft |51 by an annular shoulder but is free to rotate. A spring |6| coiled around the shaft |51 has one end secured to the thrust collar |59 and the other end secured to the driven member |58 of the clutch. Hence, shock from sudden' engagement of the member |58 will be absorbed by this spring. A similar construction will be seen in shaft |62, driven member |64 of a clutch, spring |63, thrust collar |65 and miter gear |66. Shafts |61 and |68 are provided at either end of the frame |25 upon which are mounted, as shown, sprocket wheels |69 and |12, pulley wheels |10 and |13, and miter gears 1| and |14, respectively. The sprocket Wheels |69 and |12 engage the driving chains ||6 and ||1 and positively drive the sprocket wheels` other pulley wheels |11 and |18 which are secured to the reels |02 and |03. The belts |15 and |16 are preferably of -a metallic weave or wound wire which will slip on the pulleys |11 and |18. The pulleys and |13 are of a size such that they will cause the belts and |16 to always drive the pulleys |11 and |18 at the maximum speed required to reel up the llm fed by the sprockets |01 and |08.

The sprockets |01 and |08 maintain a continuous and even rate of speed for the illm 49, but as the fllmis reeled and unreeled on the reels |02 and |03, the diameters upon which the film 49 is wound will vary and increase or decrease according to the amount of 'lm on the reels. The belts |15 and |16 which slip upon the pulleys |11 and |18 act as a slip-clutch and compensate for this change in diameter.

Mounted directly behind the member ||9 and secured to the frame |0| is a lens box |19. This lens box is part of the optical system which will be fully described later. In line with the lens box |19 and mounted on the bracket |24 is an exciting lamp 68 suitable for use in conjunction with the photoelectric cell.

In Fig. 5 a photoelectric cell 69 is shown in its relative position with reference tothe structure,

of the reel mechanism. A portion of the photoelectric cell circuit is schematically illustrated at 80d including an amplifier tube 80e leading to the sound reproducing program circuit.

As shown .in Fig. 5, the lm 49 has a multiplicity of parallel channels of sound recordings 49a and 49h, the arrows indicating direction of recording. It will be seen that one channel is reproduced in one direction and that the other channel is reproduced in the opposite direction.

Fig. 'I is a detail view of the interior of the box |35 containing the timing element. The shaft 8| is journaled in one side 35a of the box |35. Mounted on thisshaft |8| is the arm |36 as shown in Figs. '1 and 8. Mounted upon the same shaft but upon the other side |35'a of box |35 is a spur gear |82.- A bearing |83 which is secured y to the side |35b of the box |35 carries a shaft upon which is secured a largespur gear |65, and also a small spur gear |84 which meshes with the large .spur gear |82. This large spur gear |85 meshes with another spur gear |86, which is in turn secured to a shaft 81v mounted in the wall |350 of thebox |35. Secured vto-this .shaft |81 is a large worm Wheel |89 which meshes with the worm |4| described elsewhere.` This worm l 4| is mounted upon theshaft |40 which is driven by the motor |39. It will be seen that this gear trainappreciably reduces the number of revolutions per minute transmitted from the driving shaft |40 and delivered to the shaft |8|. This train of reduction gears is to be so timed that there will be a 180 degree revolution of the sh-aft arm |36. A cam |36a is eccentrically mounted on the shaft |8| and is rotated in a plane parallel with the arm |36 as shown in Fig. 9. A sliding bearing |36b is mounted upon the outer end of the arm |36. Slidably positioned in this bearing |365" is a pawl |36a. O ne end of this pawl |36c is -fnotched in the mannershown to engage with the stops |31 and |38. The other end of this pawl is shouldered to form abearing which rides upon the cam |36a. Mounted upon the pawl |36c and between the shoulder thereon and the bearing |36b is a spring |36d. This spring exerts pressure against the shoulder of the pawl and forces it continuously in contact with the periphery of the cam |36a. It will be seen that a revolution of the shaft |8| will cause the pawl |36c to move up and down with reference tothe center of the shaft |8|. Mounted upon the reverse side of the arm |36 is a pin |36e which engages in a slot in the shift yoke |30. The spiral spring |36f is coiled about the end of the shaft |8| which projects through thearm |36. This spring is secured at one end to the arm |36 and at the other end to the shaft |8|. 'I'he spring is so shaped and positioned that there is a continual pressuretransmitted from the shaft to the arm |36 in the direction of rotation. Rotation of the shaft |8| tends to increase this spring pressure.

The purpose of the mechanical elements of this.

arm |36 is to provide a very quick motion of the arm |36 at a predetermined point of rotation of the reduction gear train.

Fig. 12 shows the aperture plate |23 contain-- ing' aperture |23a coupled by means of the coupling link |29 to the shift rod |21. The aperture |23a in the plate |23 is of a nature best suited for admitting a proper light beam to the film. Further, it is of such a size and position that it will admit a light beam to but one channel of the sound record on the lm.

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of the lens system used in this projector. The exciting lamp 68, the condensing lenses 68a, the aperture plate |23, the film 49, the prisms |2I and |22, and the photoelectric cell 69, are symmetrie cally located about an axis 68h shown inFig. 6.

. Parallel light'rays from the exciting lamp 68 arev -flrst to one sound channel 49a on the filmr and then, when shifted, to the other sound channel 49h, and the light beam upon coming from either side of the film will be focused upon the photoelectric cell 69. An advantage of such an arrangement is that the exciting lamp is symmetrically located with reference to the photoelectric cell 69, and will give uniform intensity lfor both channels of sound recording 49a and49b with subsequent uniformity of reproduction.

vBefore the projector is started, the. reel |02 will contain all of. the film 49 except that portion which is used for threading through the projector up toreel |03 between plates ||8 and ||9. There is no sound record upon this threading up portion. The rest of the mechanical elements will through the projector, the train of reduction gears in the timing element in box |35, revolves the shaft |8|. At the exact moment when the end of the sound channel on the film is proximate to the path'of the light beam from the exciting lamp, the sh-aft |8| will have revolved 180 degreesby means of the train of reduction gears and caused the cam |36a to release the pawl |36c from engagement with the stop |31. 'I'he arm |36 will then very quickly revolve 180 degrees in the direction of rotation of the shaft |8| by means -of pressure of the spring |36f. The projection |36e on arm |36 which engages with shift yoke |30 will cause the same to partially rotate the shift rod |21 and shift the shift disk |52, which in turn disengages clutch |||56 and engages clutch |50|64, thereby abruptly reversing the direction of travel of the nlm 49. Simultaneously, the movement of the shift rod |21 will move the aperture plate |23 so that the aperture |23a admits a light beam from the exciting lamp to the other sound channel 49h. Further, at the Sametime, the coupling link |33 will cause the member 41 mounted on the panel 46, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, to disengage the contact 54 from contact 56 and allow the contacting blade 51 to eng-age with the contact 456, thereby continuing the electrical circuit `from source 11 to the motor 13. The film will then be driven from reel |03 and wound on reel |02 by means of the sprocket |01 and reel |02, which are now being driven from the shaft |61. When the end of the channel 49h, which was the beginning of the first channel 49a is proximate to the path of the light beam the arm |36 will again quickly revolve 180 degrees.

This last movementof the arm |36 will disengage the clutch ISD-|64, engage the clutch ISI-|58, shift the aperture plate |23 so that the aperture |23a admits a beam of light to the first' sound channel 49a, and move the coupling link |33 vso that the member 41 returns to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and disengage the contacting knife 51 from contact 56, related circuit switching operations being performed as before pointed out.

It will now be obvious that I have provided a novel selective program system in which any one of a plurality of subscribers can select any one of a plurality of recorded programs. Such a system possesses many advantages. For example, a subscriber may choose any type of program he may desire for reproduction at any time he may desire. By the useof my system it is possible .to provide an extensive central programl station in which a very great number of different programs are available to any subscriber. These programs may, not only be for entertainment purposes, but may also be directed to educational purposes in which plays and instructive lectures on different subjects are `made available to the subscriber. The use of my system thereby makes conveniently available to a subscriber a large eld of entertainment and instruction in which a subscriber can have practically any subject of intelligent thought re-enacted and reproduced before his eyes and ears at any time he may so desire. The subscriber to such a system'is enabled to dispense with entertainment devices now commonly used, such as radio receivers, gramophones, and home cinematographic apparatus, and obtain the equivalent in a more economical manner, inasmuch as the service is shared by a considerable number of subscribers.

While I have `described my invention in a certain preferred embodiment, I desire that it be understood that modications may be made and signals to said receiving stations, said switching means being controlled in accordance with predetermined movement of said program record.

2. A'selective program system comprising a plurality of program receiving stations, each of which includes an impulse sending device, means adapted to produce a plurality of programs of predetermined duration, a selector under control of each of said impulse sending devices, 'said selectors being adapted to connect to said program producing means, and means adapte-d to automatically operate said selectors to disconnect from said program producing means at a predetermined time.

3. A selective program system comprising a plurality of program signal receiving stations, a program central station having a plurality of program producing systems each of which is adapted to produce program signals from a program signal recording of predetermined duration, a selective switching system under oontrol of each of said receiving stations and adapted to connect to any o-ne of said program signal producing systems, and means under control of each of said program producing systems and adapted to operate a selective switching system connected thereto to disconnect any one of said program producing systems from any previously connected receiving station at the expiration of a program.

4. A selective program system comprising a plurality of program signal receiving stations, and a central program station including a plurality of program signal producing systems, and a plurality of switching systems each of which is under control of one of said receiving stations,

said switching systems being adapted to connect to any one of said program signal producing systems, and means controlled from said program signal producing systems for controlling said switching systems.

5. In a program system, a plurality of receiv-l ing stations each having an impulse device, a plu'- rality of program systems each including a program recordingV and operating means therefor,

impulse controlled switching means for selectively connecting said receiving stations with saidprogram systems, and means operative at the expiration of a program recording in a r through atleast one contact of each group of contacts thereof to a selected program signal producing system whereby signals can be transmitted from said selected program producing system to said controlling receiving station for the reproduction of a' program thereat, and

means controlled from said program signal producing system through a contact of vthe other group of contacts of said selector to cause the normalization of said selector at the expiration of a-program.

7. In a program system, receiving stations, program signal producing systems, selectors each having dual sets of contacts each group of which is severally connected with said program producing systems, means for enabling one group of t said contacts of each selector to establish proof step-by-step selectors each under control of one of said impulse devices, a plurality of groups of contacts in each of said selectors, said groups of contacts being severally connected with said program producing systems, means in each of said. program producing systems responsive to energization through a contact of one of said groups in any of said selectors for causing the energization of said motor, means for subsequently disconnecting said last mentioned means and connecting said translation means of said program producing system through said contact of said last mentioned group in a selecting v selector to the receiving station connected with said selector for the reproduction of a program.

at said receiving station, and means in said program producing system and operable upon the expiration of the program thereof for establishing an energizing circuit through a contact in another group 'of said selecting selector, and means connected with said selecting selector and responsive to said last mentioned energization for causingthe normalization of said selecting selector whereby said selector is disconnected from said program producing system.

. 9. In a program system, a plurality of programv signal producing systems, a plurality of receiving stations remotely situated from said program producing systems, a plurality of switching systems for selectively interconnecting said receiving stations with said program producing systems, each of said switching systems including a step-by-step selector controlled by an impulse device, said selector in any one of said switching systems including groups of contacts, contacts of each group being severally connected with said program producing systems, a program recording in each of said program signal producing systems, a motor for driving each of said program recordings, a translation device in each of said program producing systems for producing electrical signals in accordance with the program recording thereof, motor controlling means in each of said program producing systems and responsive to-energization through the contacts of one group of contacts in any of said selectors for initiating the operation of said motor, means l5 gram signal transmission circuits to said receivy said motor controlling means during such disconnection until the expiration of the program, means operable at the expiration of. a program for disconnecting said circuit established with said translation device, other meansy subsequently operable for establishing an energizing circuit through a selected contact of another group of contacts of a selecting selector, and means in each ci said switching systems and responsive to such an energizing circuit for causing the return of the selector thereof to an initial posi-` tion for the further selection of programs.

' 10. An automatic program system comprising, an electrical translating devicev at a receiving station, a plurality of reproducing devices remotely situated from said receiving station for producing program signals from recordings, an

impulse device, a step-by-step selector under control of said impulse device for connecting said translating device to a selected one of said reproducing devices, and a switch operated by an electromagnet for disconnecting said translating device from said selected reproducing device, said selector being adapted to prepare a circuit between said electromagnet and said selected reproducing device whereby said electromagnet can be energized from said selected reproducingdevice for causing the disconnection of said translating device from said reproducing device.

11. An automatic program system comprising, an electrical translating device, a reproducing device for producing program signals from a recorded program of predetermined length, relay yoperated means for establishing a plurality of separate circuits to said reproducing device, one of said circuits extending between said translating device and said reproducing device and another of said circuits extending between said relay operated means and said reproducing device, and means operated by said reproducing device at the expiration of said program for disconnecting said circuits.

12. An automatic program system comprising, a translating device, an impulse device, a plurality of different sources of programs, a selector including a movablecontactor for selective engagement with a plurality of contacts, connections between said sources of programs and said contacts, a circuitcoupled with said translating device and controlled by said impulse device, a relay connected with said circuit for4 controlling said selector, another relay for controlling a circuit from said translating device to said movable contacter, and means for causing the operaplurality of different sources oi program signals, a plurality of receiving stations, selection means for selectively establishing programv signal distribution circuits between said program sources and said receiving stations, and switching means for establishing controlling circuits between said selection means and said program sources independent of said program circuits whereby said selection means can be controlled from said program sources.

16. A program distribution system comprising,l automatic means for recurrently producing program signals from program .record means and including control circuits for causing said automatic means toV eiectively produce selected signals, a plurality of receiving stations remotely situated from said automatic means and veach including 'a translating device and an impulse device, a plurality of impulse operated switching systems respectively controlled from said receiving stations', said switching systems being connectible in parallel with said automatic means for distributing said program signals to one or more of said receiving stations for transv lation, said control circuits being operable from said switching system to cause said automatic means to produce desired signals.

17. In a system for receiving programv signals from one of a plurality of remotely situated program sources, a vsignal receiving station for reproducing programs, selection means controlled at said receiving station for selecting one of a plurality of programs for reproduction at said receiving station, and means operable from atleast one of said remotely situated program sources fong y means each individual to one of said receiving stations for rendering program signals from a selected one of said program means eiective for reproduction at said receiving station, each of lsaid selection means being manually controlled at its respective receiving station and also subject to control by signals other than program signals from said control signal producing means for controlling said selection means at a time having a deiinite relationship with the production of program signals from said program means.

19. A program signal distribution system comprising, a plurality of remote receiving stations each including a program amplifier and loud speaker as well as a manual control element, a plurality of systemseach adapted to produce and transmit signals comprising a program to said receiving stations and each including a pick-up device and ampliiier connected therewith as well as means for producing apparatus controlling signals, a plurality of-selection means each individual to each one of said receiving stations for rendering program signals from a selected program system individually effective for reproduction at said receiving station, said selection means for each respective receiving station being primarily controlled by the manual control element at said -program signal sources and each including amplication and loud speaker means as well as manual control means, a plurality of control means individual to said receiving stations for rendering desired program signals effective for amplification and reproduction at 4each respective receiving station, each of said controlling means being primarily subject to control bysaid manual control means but including electrically operated means subject to control by auxiliary signals other than program signals, and energizing means for producing and transmitting auxiliary signals other than program signals from at least one of said program sources to said electrically operated means for controlling the same in association with thertransmission of program signals from said source for remote program reproduction.

21. The program distribution system in accordance with claim 20 in which said program signal source includes an electrical pick-up device and circuit therefore and in which said control signal energizing means includes vanother electrical circuit distinct and separate from said pick-up circuit.

22. The program distribution system in accordance with claim 20 in which said auxiliary signal producing' means includes a timing element for eiecting the production of said controlling signals at a predetermined time.

23. The program distribution system in accordance with claim 20 in which said auxiliary signal producing means includes an energizable circuit, a motor driven timing element, and means subject to manual control for initiating the effective operation of said motor driven timing element in a timing course for automatically ei'ecting the energization of said circuit for transmitting auxiliary signals at a subsequent time.

24. The program distribution system in accordance with claim 20 in which said electrically operated means includes electromagnetic switching means subject to control by said auxiliary signals.

25. A signal distribution system comprising, program central station equipment having means storing signals'corresponding to a plurality of different and predetermined programs and having circuits for operating said equipment to eifectively produce selected signals, a plurality of signal receiving stations remotely situated from said centralstation equipment, and means controllable from said receiving stations for producing the effective transfer of program signals between said storing means and said receivingstations for program reproduction purposes at said receiving stations, said last mentionedmeans including means for operating said control circuits to cause said equipment to eiectively reproduce selected signals and being subject to control from any one of said receiving stations to eiect a reproduction of a program at said receiving station from said stored signals, the selection .of program and time of reproduction of said program being determined from said receiving station.

, 26. The signall distribution system in accordance with claim 25 in which saidtransfer means includes a plurality o! selection means individual to said stations. and individually operable therefrom.

27. The signal distribution system in accordance ,with claim 25 in which said receiving stations each include an impulse sending device and in which said transfer means includes a plurality of impulse controlled step-by-step selectors individually controlled from said stations.

28. The signal distribution system in accordance with claim 25 in which said storing means comprises a plurality oi motor driven automatic devices under control of said transfer means for automatically producing signals corresponding to programs.

29. The signal distribution system in accordance with claim 25 in which said storing means comprises a plurality of automatic devices each including a motor driven program record, a pickup device for cooperation therewith, and in which the control of said transfer means by a particular one of said receiving stations effects the relative movement of a particular one of said pick-up devices and its respective program record for reproducing signals thereby for reproduction at said controlling station.

30. 'I'he signal distribution system in accordance with claim 25 in which said storing and transfer means include a plurality of automatic devices each for recurrently reproducing a particular program, a plurality of multiple circuits.

each connected with one of said automatic devices and switching means individual to said receiving stations for connecting each receiving station selectively with any one of said multiple circuits.

. 31. A signal distribution system comprising a plurality of remotely situated receiving stations each including amplification and loud speaking means as well asprogram selection controlling means, and a program central station khaving a plurality of different program signal sources including a plurality of different program circuits individual to said sources, a plurality of switching means individual to said receiving stations each for connecting a particular one of said receiving stations with anyone of said program circuits, means controlled by said program selection controlling means for effecting the production of a program selection signal at said switching means, and means for transmitting switching signals from said program sources to said switching means in denite relationship with the transmission of programs over said circuits.

32. The signal distribution system in accordance with claim 31 in which said switching means,

'in connecting a particular receiving station with a particular program signal source, also establishes a separate switching signal circuit to said switching means.-

33. A signal distribution system comprising a plurality of remotely situated receiving stations each 'including amplification and loudspeaking means, and a program central station having a plurality of different program signal sources including a plurality of diierent program circuits individual to said sources, switching means for selectively connecting said receiving stations with said program circuits, manual control means for effecting the operation of said switches, automatic means for also operating said switches, and circuits other than said program circuits from said program sources for controlling said automatic electromagneticmeans in association with the transmission of program signals from said sources.

34. The signal distribution system in accordance with claim 33 including means for con-.- trolling said last mentioned circuits at a predetermined time after manual control of said switching means.

35. In a signal distribution system for transmitting signals from a plurality of program sources to a plurality of remotely situatedv receiving stations, auxiliary control-signal producing means and switching means having circuits extending from said receiving stations and adapted to establish a plurality of circuits, one extending to one of said program sources and another extending to said 'auxiliary signal producing means for effecting the reception of both program signals at said switching means, said auxiliary signals operating to control said switching means in the distribution of signals to said stations.

36. A signal distribution system comprising, a remote station having program amplification and translation means and an impulse sender, program means having a continuous program recorded in a plurality of individual record parts and pick-up means for producing program signals from said program record parts, impulsev controlled means for initiating the controlling operation of said last'mentioned means for producing signals for said translation means from one of said record components, and means for automatically effecting a change over at the expiration of one of said program parts to cause said translation and amplification means to be energized to receive signals from the other of said program parts for eilecting a continuous transmission of signals to said program amplification and translation means from said program Y record parts for reproduction at said remote station.

37. In a control system, a plurality of electromechanical systems to be controlled, remotely.

situated electrical means subject to connection with said systems, step-bystep selection means for selectively establishing plural controlling circuits with said systems, and means operative for transmitting controlling signals over said plural circuits between said remote means, said selected electro-mechanical systems, and said step-bystep selection means for effecting interdependent operation in a selection process.

38. A signal distribution system comprising, a-

plurality of program reproducing stations, central station equipment including signal producing apparatus and selection means subject to reception of a code signal'frcm one of said stations f'or initiating the operation of said apparatus to reproduce signals from a recording, and means for permitting another of said stations to connect with said apparatus, after said initiation of operation, to receive said recorded signals independent of any subsequent code signalstransmitted by said first mentioned station.

39, A signal distribution system comprising, a plurality of remote stations, central cnice equipment including a plurality of program signal sources, means including selective circuit-connection apparatus for establishing an operative transmission channel from a selected one of a particular source to said station, means fortransmitting signals from said station to said selection apparatus to determine a desired program source, and means operative from said selection -apparatus to transmit acontrolling signal to said selected source to cause the efrective trasmission of an ordered sequence of signals over saidv channel to said station, and means controllable from another of said stations for connecting said other station with said channel to receive said signals independently of subsequent control of and subject to control from one or more of the other stations for selectively establishing program connections to the same machine during the establishment of said rst metioned program connection, said last mentioned means including means for -operating the control circuit of said selected machine to cause the same to produce selected program signals.

41. A program distribution system comprising, central station equipment including motor driven means for automatically playing a multiplicity of different signal records, control circuits within said central station for operating said equipment and energizing said motor driven means to play selected records, a plurality of receiving stations having connections with said central station, selection means subject to control from said receiving stations for `selectively operating said control circuits to play selected records, and circuit means withinr said central station for rendering the signals from said played records available to a plurality of said stations.

42. A signal distribution system comprising, a plurality of diierent systems of recorded signals, each system including a plurality of separate record components, a translating station, an impulse controlled selector for establishing a connection between said station and a selected one of said systems, and means operated by the establishment of said connection for automatically reproducing signals from said separate record components and transmitting the same in an ordered sequence to said station.

43. A program distribution system comprising, a remote station, a plurality of automatic program machines for producing signals from recordings and each including a control circuit responsive to a control signal for initiating the operation of mechanism to automatically transmit signals from a recording, selection apparatus having a selecting contactor eiectively connected with said station and having selectable contacts respectively connected with said program machines, means .automatically operative, after the' connection of said contacter with a selected one of said contacts, for originating and transmitting a control signal from said selective means through said connectionsfto the program machine connected with said selected contact for initiating the operation of said mechanismfto automatically transmit said signals, and means' for transmitting a disconnection signal from said connected pro-l gram machine to said selection apparatus at the.

conclusion of the transmission of said recorded signals from said machine.

GORDON BROWN SCHEIBELL. 

